His Queen

Dinner With Tyrone Pt.2

The booth in the back sat beside a floor-to-ceiling window. They could see outside as the day turned to evening and the sunset over the water. The orange hue of its beauty was gorgeous and shined on Cleo like a golden aura.  

It made it hard for Tyrone for a moment to swallow and he whispered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you here and keep you waiting. I guess I’m just...nervous.” Cleo looked at Tyrone surprised.  

Because the man she’d seen sitting at her dining room table hadn’t seemed capable of doing nerves.  

But that was the thing, she realized feeling like an i***t. The man, the man who had intimidated Peyton with a look. The man who scared Cleo with his presence? That wasn’t the same man sitting across from her.  

Swallowing hard, Cleo wondered, “You said Peyton owed you A LOT of money. And she gave you my parent’s house as collateral, but you didn’t kick us out. You didn’t hurt or us, instead I’m sitting here, with you...eating dinner.”  

Tyrone grinned as he reminded her, “I told you, I’m not some thug or mafia tycoon darling.” Cleo leaned forward, “Then what are you?” Tyrone leaned in too as he fought a grin, “I’m a businessman, and that was purely business.”  

Cocking an eyebrow at him, Cleo seemed to be weighing his words. After processing them, Cleo shrugged, “Okay, so you’re a businessman. Whatever that means,” Tyrone laughed as he put in, “Exactly what the two words indicate.”  

But Cleo sent him a drooling look that made him laugh again. As their food was sat down, Cleo picked up her fork and dug in.  

Moaning as she enjoyed her first bite, Tyrone fought choking on air. He’d ordered a huge burger with cheese dripping down the sides and endless fries. While she’d gone for ramen and loaded fries topped with an egg.  

Opening his mouth hoping for a bite of fries, Tyrone was surprised when it was given. Taking a bite of the fries off her fork, he groaned nodding, “So good.” Sipping her coke, for a moment Cleo forgot why they came there.  

Somehow, it became two people hanging out and getting to know each other. Cleo asked questions she was burning to ask, “Your eyes...was it an accident?”  

Smiling, Tyrone admitted, “Believe it or not, no. My grandfather gave me this weird recessive gene and I got his eyes. But the crazy thing is, his eye isn’t silver like mine. He has a black and green eye.”  

They talked family for a while, but it became clear that Cleo didn’t have anyone but her stepmother and stepsister. And she hated them do to years of mistreatment. But Tyrone had an excellent family. 

A dad he saw himself in and adored, and a mom who doted on him. He had a sister who was a year younger than him, which she found out was 22.  

It was an hour later when the waitress came back clearing their dirty plates. Presenting the dessert menu, she left not realizing she’d popped the bubble. Tyrone watched as Cleo stopped enjoying his company to realize WHO’s company she was in.